New Delhi: The death toll in the collapse of a multi-story building in Delhi’s Chawri Bazaar area has risen to seven. Another body was recovered from the debris on Sunday during a rescue operation, officials said.
The deceased has been identified as 66-year-old Luchman Mukhiya, a resident of Jakauli village in Bihar’s Darbhanga district. The body has been sent to LNJP Hospital for further legal proceedings.
Earlier on Saturday, police arrested the owner of the collapsed three-story building. According to officials, seven bodies have been recovered so far during the rescue operation.
The deceased were residents of several districts in Bihar
Five of the deceased were residents of Khagaria district in Bihar. These include Sanjeet Kumar, Pankaj Sharma, Shantu, and Dinesh Sah. Kishori Sah was a resident of Saharsa district in Bihar. Another deceased, Vipin Ram, lived in the Fazilpur area of Delhi.
Four accused, including the building owner, arrested
Police said the building owner, Samullah alias Ayub, a resident of Delhi, has been arrested. Three contractors were also arrested after being detained in Sirohi village in Faridabad.
The arrested contractors have been identified as Siraj, Tajuddin, and Farkan, all three residents of Delhi.
An FIR was registered against the four accused in this case at the Hauz Qazi police station on November 5 under sections 105, 290, 125(a), and 3(5) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
The accident occurred on Thursday morning in a three-story building
The three-story under-construction building collapsed on Thursday. According to officials, the collapse was reported at 9:50 a.m. in Gali Sitara, near the Chawri Bazaar Metro Station.
Following this, the Delhi Police, National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), Delhi Fire Service, and Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) launched a massive rescue operation. Two bodies were recovered from the debris on Thursday, while an injured person was rescued and sent to the hospital for treatment.
According to the police, the building in Chawri Bazaar where construction work was underway was illegal and in an unsafe condition.
MCD JE and AE suspended, investigation ongoing
Following the accident, the Municipal Corporation has suspended its Junior Engineer (JE) and Assistant Engineer (AE). An FIR has also been filed against the contractor involved.
Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta stated that every possible effort is being made to rescue those trapped in the debris. She stated that an investigation is underway and strict action will be taken against those responsible for the accident.